United States peace activists have urged Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to apologize for Japan's wartime atrocities following her provocative remarks suggesting a possible military intervention in the Taiwan Strait, marking the first time a Japanese leader has publicly raised such a possibility.

Takaichi told parliament earlier this month that any use of military force by the Chinese mainland against Taiwan could be considered a "survival-threatening situation "for Japan, drawing sharp criticism from activists.

"She's clearly not ready for the world stage," said Julie Tang, co-founder of Pivot to Peace and a retired judge of the San Francisco Superior Court. "When you come to the world stage, everything you say is weighted. And when she made a comment that is so outrageous, especially during the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, where fascism and militarism must be avoided, she is reviving that, and it's not just impulsivity."

The backlash has already triggered economic repercussions.

Major Chinese airlines announced full refunds for flights to Japan hours after Beijing urged nationals to avoid traveling there, with more carriers following suit. Chinese tourists consistently rank as Japan's largest source of inbound visitors, playing a pivotal role in the country's tourism economy.

Japan's economic status makes Takaichi's stance particularly puzzling to observers.

The country reported that its third-quarter GDP contracted 1.8 percent at an annualized rate, while its debt-to-GDP ratio is estimated at 230 to 260 percent, among the highest in the world for advanced economies, according to recent financial reports.

"Can they afford a war? No," Tang said. "She's going to find herself probably out of office in six months."

Lillian Sing, a retired judge of the San Francisco Superior Court and co-founder of the "Comfort Women "Justice Coalition, echoed these sentiments, saying Takaichi "won't last long with that kind of judgment".

"Japan is a weak country today with a bad economy, high unemployment and a declining population. It has no rights, no standing and no ability to tell China what to do," Sing said. "The Japanese people who may think Takaichi's going to help Japan economically will find out that she cannot."

China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday stating that any Japanese military involvement would be considered unacceptable.

"If Japan dares to attempt an armed intervention in the cross-Strait situation, it would be an act of aggression," Fu wrote.

Huge mistake

Tang said: "China is taking it very seriously. It is rightfully so because you are infringing on sovereignty. It is a domestic issue between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. It's none of (Takaichi's) business. Why would she put herself in a position where she would interfere in someone's internal sovereignty? She's making a huge mistake."

Sing said Takaichi was "thumbing her nose at Chinese people", adding that China's strong response is justified.

The timing of the remarks, during the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), has intensified criticism.

Tang expressed concern about Takaichi's political base, particularly young voters, who she said remain ignorant of Japan's wartime history because of government whitewashing in textbooks.

"When you ask these young people, they know nothing about 'comfort women'. They know nothing about Unit 731. They know nothing about the rape of Nanjing. They know nothing about the bombing of Chongqing. They know nothing about slave labor," Tang said.

"These people are a whole generation of ignorance when it comes to World War II history.

"But they are just shocked right now at what the fallout is. The fallout is tremendous. Taiwan is the bottom line, and you touch that red line, you're going to be punished for it."

liazhu@chinadailyusa.com